Peterborough United star Sammie Szmodics and some great expectations

Szmodics (25) found out at the end of last month he was to become a father for the first time. He celebrated with a goal, an assist and a man-of-the-match performance in Saturday’s (February 6) 2-0 win over Crewe Alexandra.

The win lifted Posh up a place to fourth ahead of a League One clash with Ipswich at home tomorrow (February 9, 7pm).

“The baby is due at the start of August so hopefully right at the start of a season in the Championship for us,” Szmodics said.

“We found out about the pregnancy the day before the Shrewsbury game. It’s brilliant news for us. I just hope it doesn’t arrive on a Saturday as I can’t miss the first game of a season!”

After a barren goalscoring start to the season Szmodics has now scored five goals in his last seven matches. He hopes it’s just the start of a scoring run, but he was full of praise for his teammates for the way a useful Crewe side were seen off on another tricky playing surface.

“We needed a reaction after the last two matchesand the boys delivered it,” Szmodics added. “We played with a lot of energy throughout the team for the whole 90 minutes.

“Everyone covered a lot of ground. Dan Butler never stopped running all game and at one point Jonson Clarke-Harris was defending on the edge of his own penalty area.

“When you work harder and run further than the opposition you have every chance of winning games.

“From a personal point of view I just found a second wind from somewhere. Normally it comes from the fans, but I am just so eager to score and assist on goals and for the team to win matches I will just keep running.

“The pitch is wet and muddy, but it’s not as bobbly as it looks. It can be difficult, but we will never use the pitch as an excuse for not playing well. That would be a cop out.

“We are still playing some good football on it. In a way it’s working to our advantage as it makes you really concentrate on your first touch and your passing. Other teams don’t have the time to get used to it.”